Tuesday, May 16, 2006

The Duke University Lacrosse rape scandal illustrates just the latest in an ongoing trend of alcohol-related tragedies occurring on campuses and in communities around the country. And while media and public attention is focused on rape allegations, little is being said about the real contributor to this terrible crime – college binge drinking.

Alcohol in the hands of young drinkers is a serious threat to the health and safety of students nationwide. Claims of rape have made headlines in this heinous Duke University instance, but the nearly 100,000 other alcohol-related sexual assaults and date rapes among college students each year are largely ignored by the public. And a collective blind eye is turned to the close to 600,000 unintentional injuries, 700,000 assaults and 1,700 deaths that follow alcohol abuse such as binge drinking annually.

It’s time that public debate turns to the ongoing problem at hand – alcohol abuse by students – and for universities and colleges to be held responsible for the irresponsible behavior associated with underage and problem drinking on their campuses.

James E. Copple, Executive Director of the International Institute for Alcohol Awareness is a national expert on alcohol-related problems and effective strategies to prevent them. He is available for immediate interviews upon request.

For more information, please click on "Background" above, or contact pod@policyimpact.com.

To schedule an interview with Mr. Copple, please contact pod@policyimpact.com.